Last time I checked, Puerto Rico was a territory of the United States of America, governed basically by the same judicial and legal provisions as all 50 states. Puerto Rico is home to more than 4 million American citizens and among those 4 million American citizens, there are more than 200,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and transgender citizens who are, for the most part, unaccounted for by local politicians, lawmakers and by their fellow citizens. I can’t help but wonder, why do LGBT mainland based organizations leave us behind? Why aren’t we part of their struggle, which is also our struggle? I can speculate about the reasons, but to tell you the truth, I really don’t have an answer. What I can truthfully tell you is why I believe Puerto Rico should not be left behind in the LGBT debate in the USA.
In case you don’t already know, please allow me to point out some historical and political facts about the relationship between the USA and PR. Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States as a result of the Hispanic-American War of 1898. Spain, by means of the Treaty of Paris, surrendered us as a bounty of war. The USA military took possession of the Island immediately. In 1917 the USA Congress, by means of the Jones Act, granted the people of Puerto Rico American citizenship; in 1948 the people of Puerto Rico elected their first native (Puerto Rican) Governor; in 1952 the people of Puerto Rico approved and enacted The Constitution for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, which, by the way, has a broader scope of protection than the USA Constitution, in terms of due process and equal protections. Throughout our 107 year relationship, Puerto Rican soldiers have fought and are currently fighting to preserve and uphold the liberties and freedom granted by the American democracy. Our LGBT soldiers also have to put up with the “Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell” policy. The USA Congress has granted us treatment similar to that of any other state of the union, in terms of benefits and legislation. We are part of the American judicial system: we have a District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, which belongs to the 1st Circuit of the Court of Appeals; our writs for Certiorari invoking any protection under the USA constitution or any federal law are also considered by the USA Supreme Court. The DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) was ratified by the Puerto Rico legislature in 1998. We have no hate crime or employment anti-discriminationact. Puerto Ricans participate in national politics, comprising a delegation in both the Republican and Democratic parties.
Article comments
1 - a friend
hey sweetie you need to get rid of the bit at the end for your link to work... i hear your pain and echo your sentiments. well written article. i pray for you all with shrub aka george w bush as your despot!
toodles
2 - TBJ
Good report.
Like you, I am Puerto Rican. I am also gay. I totally understand your point but there is one thing you are not pointing out in your report, one very important thing.
US Politicians seem to not care about Puerto Rican's thoughts on many issues for the simple fact that we do not get to vote for them. We are US Citizens, with most rights and privileges as anyone born on the "mainland". The only major difference is, we can only vote for our own government.
You probably know that the ONLY reason Bush is "conservative" is to get votes. Politicians are out to get the most votes, plain and simple. Their personal opinions and thoughts are hidden, they only do what they think the people want to see and hear. So basically, Bush and his cronies don't need us. They don't need to cater to us because they have nothing to gain. It's all very simple.
3 - Dee Tate
Hi!
The following is a letter I've sent out somewhere over 800 times or so,so
far.First to 96 of the 99 Senators who have a website.Then to
newspapers,state legislators,and any GLBT organization I could find.As well
as 14 other countries so far.
It was published in part by two online magazines.UKGAYNEWS and NUMBER ONE Q
formely known as rawstory Q.I did have to ask After noticing it on their
site I had to write them again and request that if they were to pass it
along to please do so as is.
A Mr.Meade who runs the local Pflag chapter in Jackon,MI. I think is the
right location asked if he could publish it in his local newsletter.Which I
told him he was free to do as long as I got credit.
The title of my letter is Wolves in Sheep Clothing/Moral
Laws/Traansitioning/Humanities Judgement
The part they published was Wolves in Sheep Clothing and Moral Laws plus a
different poem I also sent them.
Being a professional writer as you are.You know if words are changed it can
change the point or meaning.They changed the title Moral Laws to Choices
which in my case and others can be totally taken out of context.
So as I have told everyone feel free to publish and pass it along if you
like it.My goal is to promote Love,Compassion and Tolerance for every
individual sharing this world.
I have had one response who informed that Transsexualism is different then
then being intersexed.Which I know.I had to inform them that if they read my
letter carefully they'd see I'm promoting Love,Compassion and Tolerance for
everyone and that my letter just as personel aspects as to who I am.That was
an organization in Australia called AIS Australia Intersexed Society.
So if you like the following please pass it along as is.
Love,your sister in
Jesus Christ
Dee
A Christian Friend
Wolves in sheep clothing
This world is so hypocritical what's it worth.You have self righteous
arrogant people who want to control how people are to live and act.I was
taught that,that is a communist state.For us behaving and acting the way we
do towards one another how can anyone including all the self righteous
religions dare say we live in a free society.
It seems religous organizations are more concerned about controlling what
other do rather then help souls in this world.It makes me sick.They say
their worried about the morality of this life.That's a joke how many of them
lie cheat and steal thinking GOD doesn't see what their doing.How many
adulterers are their going to church.How many of them are also the ones
condemning others.
NO WHERE does it say in the NEW TESTAMENT which is what Christianity is
suppose to hold to,does it say Jesus went out and killed or hurt anyone NO
MATTER who they were.
The Church of Christianity has become a den of thieves and wolves in sheep
clothing imposing whatever they think is right for them at the time.
I believe every church should reread the first 3 or 4 chapters of
Revelations about how even in the bible GOD has something against the seven
churches, which anyone can clearly see is going on in todays time.Yes the
wickedness has come into the church and it has become blind to the true ways
of Jesus.
The church is suppose to be a beckon for all souls not just for thoses who
think their better then others.Obviously,thoses people need to find GOD more
then others do.Jesus NEVER TAUGHT HATE or EXCLUSION.He invited all to come
to him.If he were here today he'd be ministering unto the sick and weak.
Plus theirs no church on earth worthy to recieve him.
How can any church or anyone who goes to church dare judge another simply
because they don't agree with the way a soul lives on this earth.Perhaps
everyone should also reread Matthew chapter 7.
I find it incorrigible that churches are hating and turning souls away.For a
church to turn anyone away goes against what Jesus has taught us.Hating
another goes against what Jesus taught us.It is of no wonder so many have
left their churches.Many souls see that the wickedness has crawled in.THE
CHURCH is for EVERY SOUL.I would ask and challenge anyone to tell me which
soul thats in church is Righteous and Worthy of GOD and Jesus.
How is it so many ministers go out of their way to condemn others for the
way they live rather then helping souls that need food,clothing and
shelter.Jesus went around preaching love and tolerance for one another.Why
are so many ministers going forth doing the opposite of what Jesus
preached.How mean,hateful and arrogant does one claiming to know the love of
Jesus have to get until others realize that preaching hate and intolerance
is actually a tool of the devil.
When are souls that claim they know and love Jesus and his ways going to
stop hating and condemning others.
I am a firm believer in Jesus and his love.I also happen to be a soul who
realizes that no matter how hard I try I will always be a sinner til Jesus
ends this world or until I leave it.Churches NEED to get back to teaching
LOVE,COMPASSION and TOLERANCE rather then then helping the Devil promote
Hate and Intolerance.He who has not sinned may cast the first stone.But we
all know their aren't any.
Love,your sister in
Jesus Christ
Dee
A Christian Friend
Moral Laws
I send this poem and
e-mail so that you and everyone out there understand It is not a
choice. I
was born in 1963 in"66 I knew I was different and by "68 I knew who I
was.I learned very young in life how wishes and dreams was nothing but
a
nice thought. Even back then when I was being taught that we could grow
up
and be and do what we want,being in a free nation.I knew that wasn't
so.
I've hid myself and have had other medical problems come at me when I
was
a teenager.Even with thoses problems.I still hid myself because of
intolerance in our limited free society that wishes to make laws based
on
religion, calling them moral laws. Their are religious morals which I
have
and human morals.Both dictate that discrimination against anyone is
wrong. Just because one group or organization including our government
doesn't agree if something is moral or not, as long as one is not
harming
another one they should still be allowed their right to live free.
Granted
our nation has made great strides since the "60's yet we still seem to
perpetuate intolerance instead of tolerance.We are the greatest nation
on
earth and we'll go around the world preaching our word of freedom and
help
the oppressed yet we still seem to oppress one another here.This is a
major contradiction.Some of our own allies know and understand this.
Until
we as a nation can stop the oppression of our own citizens it seems
arrogant to expect others to follow our lead. How many people in our
society have gone against true freedom in favor of their own self
righteousness.Our nation was partially founded on freedom of religion
and
the right not to be persecutated by it.Yet in less then 200 years we
seem
to allow it to happen.Has our government ever considered that when we
have
problems with our allies, they maybe thinking the same thing. How many of
our citizens regardless of who they are have to be hurt,killed or
commit
suicide before our nation wakes up. Everyone regardless of who they
are,are entitled to live free and have every right under the
constitution.
If we as a nation aren't going to up hold the rights and freedoms of
every
individual we better stop trying to convert the world to our ways.For
our
freedoms will have become limited to whatever one group or organization
says it is.If I can not live free in this nation or world how could
anyone
expect me or anyone else to stay in it.What is moral to one is immoral
to
another so lets make moral laws based on human decency.Not any one
organizations perception on it.
Love,your sister in
Jesus Christ
Dee
A Christian Friend
A U.S.Citizen
in Transition
Transitioning
Transitioning happens with everything.
Seed to flower,sweet to sour
Transitioning is something apart of life,
theirs no sense denying it, theirs no point fighting it.
Transitioning is such a beautiful thing
Butterflys flying in the breeze,
Nature flourishing,during spring.
Transitioning takes time, with all things.
when souls transition, angels begin to sing.
Transitioning is a basic fact of life.
Sometimes easy sometimes hard,
it happens all around us near and far.
At times it whithers,struggles and dies,
more often then not, it grows and thrives.
Transition of mind, is what man needs.
Hate to love, isn't hard to conceive.
Dee
Love,your sister in
Jesus Christ
Dee
A Christian Friend
Humanities Judgement
As I have said all these years I've seen and experienced many things in this
life.All was to gain a better understanding of GOD.I don't know if I learned
everything I should have.All I know is I've learned that this isn't the end
and all is for GOD to judge.
Everyone has their own perception on things.Mine is that I don't see the
world changing for the better.It seems as though as time passes society
keeps going backwards.Our own government will either ignore or just change
laws to suite it's own ambitions.TRUE FREEDOM IS NOT THE SUPRESSION OF ONE
ANOTHER.Their is NO ONE better then another.Some may have more then others
but, that doesn't make them any better.
I have written and sent out a letter that states that their is a plague
running across the world and that is that so many people THINK they are more
righteous then others and they are condemning others for NOT THINKING the
same way.This is what our society has labeled communition which is the
controlling of others.Which our great nation seems to be doing.
Has our country become so arrogant to think we know whats best for every
individual.Have we become such a closed minded society as to dictate what is
right or wrong for an individual.Has our country become so hateful towards
one another that we don't even notice it.It appears that many so called
religious organizations have turned to promoting hate and intolerance rather
then promoting Love and Compassion.And if that be the case.How can they dare
say they know our Lord GOD.My GOD is LOVING not hateful.MY GOD is
COMPASSIONATE not intolerable.For all those who would use GODS WORD to
condemn another is denying GODS love and compassion.
My book of life will say that even though humanity has some potenial it has
none unless it includes GODS love and compassion.Humanity has become a
wicked society that won't even give a soul the right to live as it
chooses.Humanity is fixated on making everyone conform to what one may think
is right and forcing it on others.To many souls here give lip service to
rights and freedom only wanting to supress others if they don't agree with
them or what humanity says is the norm.
The norm for humanity and society is to condemn and persecute one
another.The norm is hating what is different.The norm is not allowing others
to be who they are.The NORM is not accepting of ANYTHING DIFFERENT.The norm
is that souls percecute one another even when what one does,doesn't hurt or
have anything to do with another.
The NORM of humanity and society isn't the way of GOD.
GODS normality is diversity.GODS norm is loving even when he doesn't agree
with the way things are.GODS normality is being compassionate towards every
soul,none are excluded.GODS normality is loving those who hate.GODS
normality is not placing one over or above another.GODS normality is
allowing humanity and souls to do what they will even if it's to percecute
one another in his name.GODS normality allows religious organizations to
percecute his souls even if it's only his to judge.GODS normality is knowing
their are many organizations who confess to know him yet knowing their only
wolves in sheep clothing.
You see what we as human souls perceive and say is normal isn't what GODS
is.Don't be arrogant enough to say it is.Humanity has alot yet to learn yet,
it seems as though humanity will not or is not willing to accept the
diverity GOD has given us.Every soul is for GOD to judge not any given
religious organization.
Is religious organizations so arrogant to think one will judge another.Or
that one is better then the other.Will the Jew judge the Christian,will the
Christian judge the Jew.Or will any of them judge the atheist.No of course
not.So why is it so many wish to judge in GODS name when it's not their
place to do so.
If one confesses a faith and judges another.Aren't they placing themselves
above GOD.Humanity needs to learn to accept one another with all the
differences GOD gave us rather then wasting what short time we have here
condemning one another.Remember in judging another you have allowed yourself
to be judged the same.
Their are many churches in our country who need to reread Matthew chapter
7and if they truely understand it their doors will be open to every soul
that wishes to enter.
Some may say I'm passing judgement, when in reality what I've said is all
based on the reality of this world.Humanity has to be realistic about how it
is in order to begin to learn and understand GOD.All is GODS' for him to
judge not any one soul or organization.
Love,your sister in
Jesus Christ
Dee
A Christian Friend
FREEDOM WHO'S IS IT ANYWAY?
With what has happened recently It makes me feel as if their is hope for
humanity.It's love and compassion is shining though.I wonder if it will
still show after the current tragity is over.It seems to be basic human
emotion to turn back to hating one another after such events.
As I've written before people will hate,exclude,hurt or kill one another
simply because they don't like the way another lives.This is not FREEDOM.
How many of those organizations that hate the way another lives is now being
a hypocrite by helping them and then go back to wanting to exclude,hurt or
kill them.Their are many wolves in sheep clothing trying to keep up an
appearance.
I personelly have had enough of humanities prejudices,bigotry and being two
faced when it comes to FREEDOM.
My learned behavior from humanity is that even in a society that calls
itself free,one must behave according to what someone else says is moral not
by common human decency or their not allowed rights others have,this is not
FREEDOM.It seems humanity can't handle freedom.If it could,it's governing
bodies wouldn't be governing how or what an individual does with it.
FREEDOM means organizations aren't allowed to force their views on
anyone.Yet the first amendment keeps being thrown out the window.
It seems our constitution no longer stands for FREEDOM.It appears to be a
document that is used by some to justify the governments actions on
restricting ones right in favor of anothers.Which isn't FREEDOM.
Organizations want our (government) alleged free society to make laws based
on their belief.Which isn't FREEDOM.I know of a country that once governed
organizations by it's belief.It wasn't a free society.Now,those same
organizations wish to control instaed of being controlled.They have went
from being the oppressed to being the oppressers.This isn't FREEDOM.
FREEDOM is FREEDOM for ALL..If not,FREEDOM doesn't exisit.It's simply a
word.Don't be a idiot and try to misconstrue my words or thought.Things such
as murder,rape or ANY thing that would hurt another is basic.No one has the
right to do that.Yet some who claim FREEDOM will do such things because of
their belief.Not allowing those who believe differently that same FREEDOM
they claim.
FREEDOM IS BASIC HUMAN DECENCY,TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER.FREEDOM IS TOLERANCE
TOWARDS ONE ANOTHER,DISPITE DIFFERENCES.NOT SUPRESSING ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE
OF THEM.FREEDOM ISN'T RESTRICTING RIGHTS BECAUSE OF DIFFERENCES IN FAITH OR
WHAT IS CALLED LIFESTYLE.FREEDOM ISN'T PERPETUATING IGNORANCE OR
LIES.FREEDOM IS UNDERSTANDING BY TRUTH OF FACTS.FREEDOM IS A CONCEPT A LOT
OF HUMANITY CAN'T UNDERSTAND OR IS AFRAID OF.FREEDOM ISN'T CONTROLLING,YET
SOME WISH TO CONTROL FREEDOM.THOSE WHO DO,ARE ENEMIES OF FREEDOM.WHETHER
THEIR OUTSIDE A FREE COUNTRY OR THOSE WITHIN,WISHING TO RESTRICIT THE RIGHTS
OF THOSE WHO LIVE WITHIN.
FREEDOM!, WHO'S IS IT ANYWAY.RELIGIONS,PRIVITE
ORGANIZATIONS,GOVERNMENTS?
FREEDOM IS A (CONCEPT,BELIEF) ALL IT'S OWN.IT"S NOT BIAS OR PREJUDICE.
FREEDOM and a SOCIETY CLAIMING FREEDOM EITHER ALLOWS FREEDOM FOR ALL AND IF
THEY DON"T.THEY NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE CONCEPT OF FREEDOM OR BELIEF OF
FREEDOM.
Isn't it amazing how some seem to have nothing to do but worry about what
others are doing,and people think I'm crazy.It's also amazing how some seem
to want to invovle themselves with matters that don't have anything to do
with them.Dispite expecting FREEDOM for themselves they wish to restrict it
for others.How hypocritical can society get.People talk about believing in
things such as GOD and FREEDOM yet in reality all they really want is to
control that which they don't like.People never seem to want others to live
life other then the way they are or want.Again how hypocritical of FREE
society.Some believers are the worse when one is trying to live their life
in a free society.Thinking you must believe the way they do or you are an
abomination.Those souls don't understand or respect FREEDOM.Nor do they
understand compassion or tolerance.Human society doesn't want FREEDOM it
wants COMPLIANCE.
Religious organizations want Americans to comply with what they believe and
are willing to go againist it's teaching as well as disregarding America's
FREEDOM in order for others to comply to the way they think and believe.As
I've stated before Religious organizations are now wanting to oppress others
like they were.No matter what organization it is,oppressing others is wrong.
We Americans are unique and hypocritical.We wish to create laws surpressing
FREEDOM and still try to claim we treasure it.How can anyone wonder why some
don't like us,considering how we limit FREEDOM to those who only comply with
the way religious organization feels.
Morality is an issue humanity has been arguing about since the beginning.So
lets take a look at it.We have organizations that hide pedifiles,yet claims
morality.We have people who we trust to run our country,yet some will take
advantage and use taxpayers money for their own greed.We have some people
and organizations who claim same sex marriage is bad yet,many marriages have
affairs.Some organizations will turn a blind eye to it allowing those
marriages to be apart of their church not considering the morality of it and
then EXCLUDE others claiming morality reasons.Is it moral for a church to
exclude anyone seeking GOD.Are they not judging.Which they were told not to
by the one the church is based upon.Or are they content in judging in his
place.Human decency is the moral thing.Love,Compassion and Tolerance is the
moral thing.Allowing another the same FREEDOM one expects is moral.Limiting
anothers RIGHTS and FREEDOM because someone else or organization doesn't
like what another does is IMMORAL and isn't FREEDOM.
I know my words seem to be redundant after writting Wolves in Sheep
Clothing/Moral Laws/Transitiong//Humanities Judgement but,if theirs one
thing I've learned about humanity is that it's redundant in making the same
mistakes over and over,century after century in wanting to control anothers
life.I realize that FREEDOM is realitively a new concept for humanity to
handle but,a nation that claims FREEDOM can not allow any organization
including religious ones to dictate their view of morality on others.Even a
government that is based on belief.If they do their not supporting FREEDOM
their supporting favoritism and separatism.
Love,your sister in
Jesus Christ
Dee
A Christian Friend